22 April 2010 Edition
Bold move demonstrates leadership SDLP sorely lacks
22 April 2010
Alex Maskey's withdrawal of his nomination in South Belfast for the 6 May Westminster election in order to maximise nationalist representation was a real show of leadership by Sinn Féin. The move was made despite the rejection by the SDLP of a reciprocal pact after a unionist unity candidate was put forward in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. This Sinn Féin initiative was aimed at protecting the two nationalist seats under threat from unionism, those of Michelle Gildernew in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and Alasdair McDonnell in South Belfast, not for narrow party political concerns. Free article